The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1887-06-12


and used As food, but is considered rs
difficult Of digestion. The bitter almond
is known by its smaller blossoms. Its
fruit is said To be injurious as the skin of
its kernel contains considerable
amount of prussic acid.
While travelling in 1859 in Italy,
France and the Levant, | became very
much interested in the culture of
almonds, and having been informed that
almonds could be raised in California,
thought that it could be raised in our
State, too, and to try the experiment
set out the two varieties i'm 1884. Both
of them are growing, but as the almond
does not like to be troubled, but follows
always its own way, il will not bear any
any fruit before the fifth year, and for
that reason we have to wait, before we
recommend it for general planting in
our country.
PEACHES.
The peach diffeis from the almond
only i'm its fruit, the flesh of which is
thick and succulent and in the structure
of its stone which is furrowed with deep
anfractuosities. The peach originated,
probably, from Persia, and presents
three interesting divisions. In the first
two the fruit is downy, i'm the third,
smooth. The first has firm flesh adher-
ing to its nucleus, it comprehends the
various sorts of clingstone peach; in the
second the flesh Is melting and easily de-
tached from the stone, and accordingly
is called the freestone peach; the third is
distinguished from the two preceding 10y
its skin, which is smooth and not downy
and comprehends the different varieties
of nectarine.
Peaches of the sunniest beauty and
most delicate flavor are raised at present
all over the world and are at times in
some districts almost as plentiful ms po-
tatoes. Eating this delicious fruit we
have to observe, however. the following
rules:
l. Peel the fruit first, as the skin of
the fruit of several varieties contain
bitter principles.
p Eat not too much of the fruit at the
time and you will spare yourself the
trouble of complaining of disorders of
the bowels.
The kernel of the fruit yields an oil
similar to that of an almond. brandy
made from them Is called Persico. In
pimples and freckles of the skin use the
distilled water of the flowers F; i'm alice
tions of the kidney a tea made of the
flowers will give some relief. while an
electuary and syrup prepared from them
will act as an anthelmintic as well as
mild aperient remedy. In cancer and old
wounds the dried and powdered leaves
strewn over the seat of the trouble will
prove its healing qualities. The distilled
water of the kernels is a excellent rem
edy in diseases occasioned by the stone
and, if you wish to stanch the bleeding
of a wound, pound few kernels with
the white of one egg and apply the com
pound to the wound. The valuable
wood of the peach tree is very much
used by cabinet makers and turner's.
THE PEEN-To AND HONEY VARIETIES.
Among the many varieties of peaches,
the Peen-to and the Honey are the best
for our soil and climate not only for
their vigorous growth, but also for their
early bearing. Trees set out in 1884 bore
last year over one hundred and this year
over two hundred fruits, while young trees
only one year old transplanted in Janu-
airy of this year brought some fruits to
maturity. have now thirty-six peach
trees on my place, representing eight
varieties but ! shall make an addition
to 1.-THE orchard next December for the
purpose of finding out if we could not
raise peaches i'm succession from the
earliest to the latest.
1t is really wonderful how peaches
gIow in Florida. Two years after sow
ing the seed you will have bearing trees
if you will follow the rules and ad-
vice herewith given: Sow the seed i'm
autumn in good and well dug soil and
the seed will come up next spring and
will make a fine tree, ready for trans
planting in the fall. Plant the trees on
the south side of your place and the
early varieties will bear sooner, the latter
surer. If the leaves commence to roll
up by reason of dry and hot weather
syringe the leaves and branches well
after sunset. Do not touch any fruit
while ripening. for the smallest pressure
will make the fruit rot. DO not pluck
| the fruit when it has commenced color
| ing, but remember that this is the time
when the fruit has reached only the half
| Of its size. Do not sell any unripe
peaches. for they will produce different
complaints and will injure the good
reputation of the fruit growers. Peaches
grated or budded on the plum will
do well, but better and finer fruits can
be raised on the almond.
IL you will follow the advice given,
then you will find out that there is rather
more money in fruit growing than in
farming. People coming to Florida take
long time to learn what is the best for
them, and when they have learned they
have too often no sufficient means Of
turning TO it, or perhaps no leisure. while
many Others, through disappointed hope
lose their spirit and energy. Therefore